Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-12-01
Friend Deckcr's Re-
ward.

WdTu.
The days are shortening, sighed Friend
Decker, rs he folded up his spcctacles and
replaced them in their tin ease, cor else my
sight isn't what il used 10 be. Welladay,
one can't expect to be young always. Is ii
thee, Leah ? | did not look for thee so
soon.
Leah Decker came into the room like n
breezy young whrlwind. She had none OF
the repose of manner which is at present so
much in vogue. Born and bred IA Quaker
ess. there was nothing of the Quakeress IL
bout her, except her quaint Scripture name.
Yes it's me " said Leah, shortly.
Did thee go To Friend Anastasia % gently
inquired the old man, re-adjusting the big
pine logs SO that they should burn brighter
for Leahs benefit.
% yes, | went there
Il hope she is better of her rheumatism
Yes, she is better. But-but-she will
not buy the apples, father. Mean, stingy
old thing = cried Leah, wrathfully, fling
ing her coal-scuttle bonnet on the table.
She says she can buy all she wants at 80
cents n barrel, of old Jacob Joyce so she
can, perhaps wretched, knurly, wormy
knots, not tit for pigs Ours are apples
She says thee asks an eXorbitant price.
Friend Decker slowly shook his head.
Friend Auastasia is under a misappre-
hension, said he. Eighty cents a barrel is
what they are paying at the cider mill. ON
| ly one does not like 10 see such beautiful,
rare colored fruit ground into balcfnl spirits
10 set mems brains on fire.
Much she would stop TO think of that,
said Leah, still ruflled.
Il am sorry, said Friend Decker, mildly
i need the money much, sand l think she
would have been better satisfied with my
apples than with Friend Jacob Joyce's.'
And after all that, flashed out Leah, the
spirit Of Indignation rife within her, she
had the impudence TO ask me for a jan of
plum sauce made. She says Friend Mary
told her now nice IL was and
And quietly interposed her father thee
said, hope that thee would be glad 10 O.
blige her.
NO. didn't bluntly answered Leah. Il
said that gathered the wild plums myself
in the Crook wood, and cooked them after
aunt Mahala's recipe, and that there were
four jars and | wanted 10 keep them for
thee especially since thy health was SO
poor and thy appetite 50 variable
Il am sorry, dear, said Friend Decker.
Friend Anastasia is very old, and people
are apt 10 be mercful about trihes. More
over, she's our kinswoman, degree or two
removed, perhaps but
Then why don't she DO something for
us p flashed out Leah, besides giving us
good advice and tormenting us with her
fault-fndings ? didn't mean TO mention
it, father, but she told me out and out that
she had adopted Moses Sawyer, and that
she meant to take him for her heir
-'wcl'. daughter, why should she not 2
compoSedly questioned the ....A.4--
Because hc is no relation 10 her at all,
cried Leah, and the property came from
our Grandfather LennoX, thee knows
Thee attaches too much importance 10
mere dress, Leah said Friend Decker.
'Thce must study the text of the lilies OF the
field in the Bible. We shall be provided
for if only we can have patience TO wait
Leah bit her full, red under lip as she
glanced around the sparsely furnished room
and noticed her fathers dropping figure and
rapidly whitening head, but she made no
reply rs she took up the coarse pile of vests
on which she had been working button-hol-
es for neighboring clothing contractor.
Fathers saint, thought she, but l am
not, and am afraid l never shall be. l
should like 10 cut off Anastasia Akerly's
ears. If every one had their rights, half of
that big LennoX farm would be ours. She
gained possession of it by the merest legal
quibble, and If father was like any one else
he would have gone To law about it long n
20 and got back his own. And now TO see
it deliberately willed 10 some once lse =
And Leah's needle flew vindictively in
and out of the cloth like miniature iavelin
piercing the heart of an unseen enemy.
But the next morning when Leah had
gone to carry her bundle of vests home, and
get another batch of work, Friend Decker
put on bis hat and buttoned his great-coat.
which was getting worn at the elbows and
shiny ut the seams.
1t is a bright, clear morning, albeit a |
trihe frosty said he. Il think may walk |
as far rs Lennox farm without aggravating |
my cough.
And under his arm he carried neat par
eel.
Old Anastasia Akerly was winding blue |
yarn before her fire when he came in. She |
greeted him without shadow of suspicion. |
Had he come like n spy into the cnemy's |
quarters ?
Il hope thee is well, Friend Anastasia,
said he. l have brought thee n jar of my |
daughters wild plum sauce. Perhaps it |
may tempt thy appetite
Il amt of no consequence said She Il |
dunno rs | care so much about sweetsthings. |
Only there used to grow wild plum bush |
on the hills at home, and mother used TO |
boil the plums with molasses. They were |
drefful sour, but there was flavor about |
'em hain't never since tasted. And when |
Mary Moore told me how good Leah's was, |
| kind o. notioned I'd like taste o. 'em- |
But Leah said she hadn't none to spare
Leah was mistaken, said Friend Decker.
'In our house there is always something to |
spare for an old friend like thee
Il didn't know that you looked on me as
friend, she said sharply.
thee ought to have been certain of that
Il a.,
the Lennox property was managed, said |
Miss Akerly.
Nothing was said by me, Friend Anasta-
sia, observed the Quaker. And rs far us in |
me lies am anxious to be ut peace with all |
the world
'Humph, said the old woman. We'll, |
there amt no use making up to me my |